1 Dollar - Elizabeth II 4th Portrait - Year of the Rat

1 Dollar - Elizabeth II (4th Portrait - Year of the Rat) - obverse1 Dollar - Elizabeth II (4th Portrait - Year of the Rat) - reverse

© Mike Bentley (CC BY-NC)

Features

Issuer Australia
Queen Elizabeth II (1952-2022)
Type Non-circulating coin
Year 2008
Value 1 Dollar
1 AUD = USD 0.65
Currency Dollar (1966-date)
Composition Aluminium bronze (92% Copper, 6% Aluminium, 2% Nickel)
Weight 9 g
Diameter 25 mm
Thickness 2.5 mm
Shape Round
Technique Milled
Orientation Medal alignment ↑↑
Number
N#
72962
References KM# 1056
Tracy L. Schmidt (editor); 2019. Standard Catalog of World Coins / 2001-Date (14th edition). Krause Publications, Stevens Point, Wisconsin, United States.
And 5 more volumes.

Commemorative issue

Year of the Rat

Series: Lunar Series II

Obverse

4th portrait of Queen Elizabeth II facing right wearing the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara

Script: Latin

Lettering:
ELIZABETH II
AUSTRALIA 2008
1 DOLLAR
IRB

Designer: Ian Rank-Broadley

Reverse

Rat with authentic chinese symbols all in a symetrical design

Scripts: Chinese, Latin

Lettering:
2008
YEAR OF THE RAT

Designer: Vladimir Gottwald

Edge

7 shorter smooth segments between 7 reeded segments (11 grooves each)

1 Dollar - Elizabeth II (4th Portrait - Year of the Rat) -  obverse

© Mike Bentley (CC BY-NC)

Mint

Royal Australian Mint, Canberra, Australia (1965-date)

Comments

In 2008 the Royal Australian Mint continued with the second release in an ongoing series of NCLT one dollar coins depicting each lunar year and their representative animals. The coin was issued in a tall coincard.


2008 marks the year of the Brown Earth Rat which begins on February 4th 2008, the first day of the solar month in the Chinese Lunar calendar. Those born in 1996, 1984, 1972, 1960, 1948, 1936 or 1924 were also born into the Year of the Rat.

The Chinese Zodiac is based on a twelve year cycle, each year being represented by an animal. People born in the "Year of the Rat" are sensitive, imaginative and charming. they are generous to their loved ones, but can be quick-tempered.

Interestingly this is the only coin in the series that does not have an actual Chinese Character (for rat) on it. All the others do have a Chinese Character for the animal they depict

A Fine Silver Proof (.999) version of the coin was also released in a capsule in a plush red box.

See also

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Date Mintage VG F VF XF AU UNC
2008  20 359 $ 9.50 BU in Coincard

Values in the table above are expressed in USD. They are based on evaluations by Numista users and sales realized on Internet platforms. They serve as an indication only; they are not intended to be relied upon for buying, selling or exchanging. Numista does not buy or sell coins or banknotes.

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This index is based on the data of Numista members collections. It ranges from 0 to 100, 0 meaning a very common coin or banknote and 100 meaning a rare coin or banknote among Numista members.

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